Lamar Head Coach Ray Woodard takes a panorama of the interview room during the Cardinals' turn in the spotlight at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. Woodard joked that people worried he didn't use social media often enough. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Lamar Head Coach Ray Woodard takes a panorama of the interview room during the Cardinals' turn in the spotlight at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. Woodard joked that people worried he didn't ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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A Lamar Cardinals helmet sits in front of Head Coach Ray Woodard as he gives an opening statement during the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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A Lamar Cardinals helmet sits in front of Head Coach Ray Woodard as he gives an opening statement during the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Caleb Berry, quarterback for the Lamar Cardinals, answers a question during Lamar's turn in the spotlight Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Caleb Berry, quarterback for the Lamar Cardinals, answers a question during Lamar's turn in the spotlight Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Coach Ray Woodard, center, answers a question while Lamar's Reggie Begelton, left, and Caleb Berry, right, listen on during the Cardinals' question-and-answer session Wednesday. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Helmets emblazoned with the Southland Conference and Lamar Cardinals logos sit on a table during the Cardinals' turn in the spotlight Wednesday. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Helmets emblazoned with the Southland Conference and Lamar Cardinals logos sit on a table during the Cardinals' turn in the spotlight Wednesday. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Lamar wide receiver Reggie Begelton listens to a question during the Cardinals' question-and-answer session at the Southland Conference Media Day. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Lamar wide receiver Reggie Begelton listens to a question during the Cardinals' question-and-answer session at the Southland Conference Media Day. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Caleb Berry, quarterback for the Lamar Cardinals, answers a question during Lamar's turn in the spotlight Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Caleb Berry, quarterback for the Lamar Cardinals, answers a question during Lamar's turn in the spotlight Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 9 of 25

Reggie Begelton, wide receiver for the Lamar Cardinals, answers a question during Lamar's turn in the spotlight Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Reggie Begelton, wide receiver for the Lamar Cardinals, answers a question during Lamar's turn in the spotlight Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Lamar's Reggie Begelton, Coach Ray Woodard, and Caleb Berry, left to right, listen to a question during the Cardinals' turn on stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Lamar's Reggie Begelton, Coach Ray Woodard, and Caleb Berry, left to right, listen to a question during the Cardinals' turn on stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Head Coach Ray Woodard grins as he jokes from the stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Head Coach Ray Woodard grins as he jokes from the stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Lamar wide receiver Reggie Begelton talks with the Beaumont Enterprise after the Cardinals' time on stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Lamar wide receiver Reggie Begelton talks with the Beaumont Enterprise after the Cardinals' time on stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Ray Woodard, head coach for the Lamar Cardinals, wears a Cardinals pin on his tie Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Ray Woodard, head coach for the Lamar Cardinals, wears a Cardinals pin on his tie Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Coach Ray Woodard answers a question during Lamar's turn on stage during the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Coach Ray Woodard answers a question during Lamar's turn on stage during the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Coach Ray Woodard, center, answers a question while Lamar's Reggie Begelton, left, and Caleb Berry, right, listen on during the Cardinals' question-and-answer session Wednesday. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Coach Ray Woodard answers a question while wide receiver Reggie Begelton, front, and quarterback Caleb Berry, back, listen on. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Coach Ray Woodard answers a question while wide receiver Reggie Begelton, front, and quarterback Caleb Berry, back, listen on. The Southland Conference Media Day was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Lamar quarterback Caleb Berry responds to a question during the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Lamar quarterback Caleb Berry responds to a question during the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Lamar's Coach Ray Woodard checks his phone after the Cardinals' turn on stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Lamar's Coach Ray Woodard checks his phone after the Cardinals' turn on stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 22 of 25

Lamar quarterback Caleb Berry talks with the Beaumont Enterprise after the Cardinals' turn on stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Lamar quarterback Caleb Berry talks with the Beaumont Enterprise after the Cardinals' turn on stage at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 23 of 25

Lamar's Reggie Begelton, wide receiver, left, and Caleb Berry, quarterback, check their messages after the Cardinals' question-and-answer session at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Lamar's Reggie Begelton, wide receiver, left, and Caleb Berry, quarterback, check their messages after the Cardinals' question-and-answer session at the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Tom Burnett, Southland Conference commissioner, left, and Ray Woodard, head coach for the Lamar Cardinals, speaks outside the interview room during the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was held at the L'Auberge Casino and Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Representatives from the conference's 11 teams spoke with media from around the region.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/23/14
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Tom Burnett, Southland Conference commissioner, left, and Ray Woodard, head coach for the Lamar Cardinals, speaks outside the interview room during the Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday. The event was ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Lamar football team confident they can compete in Southland

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Ray Woodard started off with a joke.

The Lamar head coach opened Southland Conference Media Day on Wednesday by talking about how his players tell him every year that "he needs to use social media more."

So Woodard took out his phone and shot a panoramic photo of the media in the L'auberge Resort's banquet room, posting the image to his Twitter account.

He then told the crowd, "We're Tweeting at Lamar now."

Woodard was more serious when discussing the expectations for his Cardinals this season.

"We still feel that we're relativity new, but we're not that new," Woodard said. "This is our fourth year in the league and our expectations are higher than they have ever been."

Lamar was selected Wednesday to finish tied for sixth out of 11 teams by conference coaches and seventh by sports information directors. That is a stark improvement for a team predicted to finish either seventh or eighth in past seasons, when the conference had only eight teams.

"We have played enough in this league that we have confidence that we can play in this league now," Woodard said.

Lamar is coming off a record-breaking season in which the team set nearly 50 team or individual records.

"It is almost the opposite of last year," Woodard said. "We had a lot question marks offensively last season. This year we have eight starters back. They will have more pressure

on them. We expect to be, if not the best, one of the best offenses in the conference."

The question marks this year center on the defense, which returns only two starters, cornerback Montez Hunter and defensive lineman Omar Tebo. The biggest concern is the team's secondary which loses both starting safeties.

To shore up the backend of the defense, the coaching staff moved All-SLC kick returner Kevin Johnson from wide receiver to safety late last season. Woodard expects big things from the explosive playmaker in 2014.

"The main thing I expect from him is to grow up," Woodard said. "He has been a work in progress since he got here. He already possesses outstanding ball skills. He is going to have the type of season we expect of him."

Being picked to finish in the middle of the pack may be an improvement for Lamar. For the Cardinals to begin being considered as one of the SLC's best teams, the program will need to post its first winning season since 1979. To do that the team will need to win close games, something Lamar didn't do last season.

Four of the team's seven losses last year were of 11 points or less, including two last-minute defeats to McNeese State and Central Arkansas.

"We all had the potential to knock down the door and win games last year," said Berry, the team's quarterback. "We just haven't done it yet."